A 27-year-old man asks about an e-cigarette device he purchased; after one month the vapour irritates his eyes. What is the most appropriate action to take?

• A. Advise the patient to report the issue using the Yellow Card scheme
• B. Advise to ignore it
• C. Change the device without reporting
• D. Do nothing

Answer: (A)

When a patient experiences a suspected adverse reaction or a safety problem with a device, reporting to the Yellow Card scheme is essential. Eye irritation from e-cigarette vapour after a month could indicate a safety issue with the device or its contents, and recording it helps regulators detect signals and decide on any needed safety actions.

Reporting collects details about the device, the symptoms, timing, and usage, enabling pharmacovigilance teams to monitor risk across products and potentially issue alerts or recalls if a pattern emerges. Even if causality isn’t certain, it’s important to report suspected issues to protect others and improve product safety.

In the meantime, advise the patient to stop using the device until the issue is understood, avoid rubbing the eyes, rinse or irrigate if advised by a clinician, and seek medical advice if symptoms persist or worsen.